Day 8, It has been done before ...

In praying last night, I read the Bible and was lead to the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 10 and 11. It is too much to relay every detail of the story here. Basically Peter has a vision given to him by God.

In chapter 11:5-10, Peter says "I was at prayer in the city of Joppa when, in a trance, I saw a vision. An object like a big canvas came down; it was lowered down to me from the sky by its four corners. As I stared at it, I could make out four-legged creatures of the earth, wild beasts and reptiles, and birds of the sky. I listened as a voice said to me, 'Get up , Peter! Slaughter, then eat.' I replied: 'Not for a moment, sir! Nothing unclean or impure has ever entered my mouth! A second time the voice from the heaven spoke out: 'What God has purified you are not to call unclean.' This happened three times; then the canvas with everything in it was drawn up again into the sky."

Now at this time there was a wealthy Gentile, named Cornelius. He was a centurion of the Roman cohort Italica. He was a religious and God-fearing man, but he was a Gentile. He had a habit of giving generously to the people and he constantly prayed to God. One afternoon, Cornelius had a vision in which he very clearly saw messenger, robed in light, coming toward him. The messenger addressed Cornelius and said: "Your prayers and your generosity have risen in God's sight, and because of them he has remembered you. Send some men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, known as Peter." [Acts 10:1-8] So Cornelius immediately summoned two of his servants and sent them to find and summon Peter.

Conrelius's servants entered to find Peter just as his vision had ended. As the spirit in Peter's vision had instructed him to follow the servants that would come without hesitation, Peter and six of his brother's went with the servants to Cornelius' house in Caesarea. The next day they arrived in Caesarea.

Cornelius who was expecting Peter's party had invited his family and several close friends over to attend the gathering. Upon entering, Peter addresses the assembly as follows: "You know must know that it is not proper for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or have dealings with him. But God has made it clear to me that no one should call any man unclean or impure." Peter then asks why Cornelius has summoned him. Cornelius relays his vision and reason for summoning Peter. Peter then begins to address the crowd about Jesus of Nazareth's life, death, resurrection, and appearance after his death to the prophets to call them to bear witness to his name and spread his message of hope, redemption and salvation.

[Acts 10:44-48]: "Peter had not finished his words of address, when the Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to Peter's message. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were surprised that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, whom they could hear speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Peter put the question at that point: 'What can stop these people who have received the Holy Spirit, even as we have, from being baptized with water? So he gave orders that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.' After this was done, they asked him to stay for a few more days."

In subsequent discussions with the assembly Peter says "As I began to address them the Holy Spirit came upon them, just as it had upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If God was giving them the same gift he gave us when we first believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to interfere with him?" When Peter's brothers heard these words they stopped objecting, and instead began to glorify God in these words: "If this be so, then God has granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles." [Acts 11:15-18]

Thus, I strongly feel that what we ask for in this prayer campaign is not beyond reason. If it is the will of God, it can be done now as it has been done before.

Let us pray,
"Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth."